First, combine the common terms on the left side of the equation:
#p - 1 = (5 + 3)p - 8#
#p - 1 = 8p - 8#
Next, subtract #color(red)(p)# and add #color(blue)(8)# from each side of the equation to isolate the #p# term while keeping the equation balanced:
#-color(red)(p) + p - 1 + color(blue)(8) = -color(red)(p) + 8p - 8 + color(blue)(8)#
#-color(red)(p) + p - 1 + color(blue)(8) = -color(red)(1p) + 8p - 8 + color(blue)(8)#
#0 + 7 = (-color(red)(1) + 8)p - 0#
#7 = 7p#
Now, divide each side of the equation by #color(red)(7)# to solve for #p# while keeping the equation balanced:
#7/color(red)(7) = (7p)/color(red)(7)#
#1 = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(7)))p)/cancel(color(red)(7))#
#1 = p#
#p = 1#